Caterpillar steel toe-capped safety boots

Another pair off boots to try from Caterpillar. Not new - I've had them for over 20 years but used them very sporadically, and they haven't worn much. They were used today because the Timberland one's have got so wet internally that they are not drying out in this weather. The Caterpillar boots are safety boots and are meant to protect against spillage, and they are definitely more waterproof, as they didn't let in any water from the wet grass on their first usage. They are slightly less comfortable once you put them on, although they are fine when walking.

Micro-moth caterpillar

This suspected micro-moth caterpillar was spotted on a leaf this week. It is only 5mm long, and looks like a little fuzzy worm until you look closely.

Caterpillar eggs

These were spotted on a willow leaf.

Caterpillars, Spiders and Little Grebes.

On Saturday, Disgruntled was in his garden when he noticed the following in a Kilmarnock willow:-



Unnoticed at the time until the photo was uploaded to a computer was his mate in the branch behind, but they are doing a good job at munching the leaves of the tree. They were around 5 cm long, but are currently unidentified. If anyone can name them, please get in contact.



In the same tree, a little bit above the caterpillars and between two small branches, was this Garden spider, Araneus diadematus, sat in the middle of its web and attending to what looks like dinner. The web is quite large and quite impressive, and these spiders are quite common. They will become easier to spot as the autumn draws in, and the morning dew collects on their webs, making them easier to see.




Last night Disgruntled wandered to the Three Brooks lake and was pleased to see that the resident Little grebe (or Dabchick) and successfully raised a brood of two. Both chicks were out and about, foraging for themselves and being fed by a parent. In this picture, the chick has just received a small fish from the mother and is busy shaking it about.



In this image, the chick is trying to deal with a fish which it has caught itself. The concentric rings in the water highlight where the chick has surfaced after diving.



The second chick.